You can make someone smile – by helping light their candle, their inner candle, the light within . . .
Candle lighting at Creation Festival
I volunteered with Compassion International at Creation Fest couple of years ago. There was great music, good teaching, and fellowship. I saw God work in people’s hearts in several ways. People dedicating or rededicating their lives to Jesus. People of all ages being baptized, worshipping together, serving, and enjoying God’s creation. For many it was a life changing event. For others, they changed the life of a sponsored child as well as their own.
God worked in my heart on Friday night at the festival. Each year on Friday night at Creation Fest, they have a candle lighting ceremony. Now, I’ve attended numerous candle lighting ceremonies at churches. It’s always a beautiful, meaningful experience. But in a field with thousands of believers. . . it’s awesome.
We had just sung along with Casting Crowns, one of my favorite Christian music groups, despite a little rain (that was the first “God Moment” as my pastor would call it). God then stopped the rain long enough for us to have the candle lighting. (another cool “God Moment”).
But standing in that field with thousands of believers during a candle lighting service, like I said, it’s really special. I was standing on the edge with the other Compassion volunteers. There was a swirling wind and we were trying to hold our light up to be seen but also shield it from the wind. We shielded our candles from the wind with our other hand, but had to keep moving it around, adjusting to the changing direction of the wind.
Sometimes someone’s candle would go out – and their neighbor would simply help them light their candle. Sharing their light. Obvious answer, no big deal.
A deeper meaning
But it was then I felt God trying to get my attention, that something more significant and symbolic was happening here…
As Christians we have a light within us to let shine before men (Matthew 5:14-16). Sometimes our light gets dim during trials. We become so discouraged or we quit trusting God to bring us through. Sometimes our light goes out because we have fallen into sin and our rebellious spirit blocks the light. Or, we listen to the world and our light flickers because we are doubting our faith.
If your light does go out, your brothers and sisters in Christ can share their light and help light yours again. They can comfort you, counsel you, encourage you, be an example, share His truth, and remind you of God’s love. Or maybe you can help someone else light their candle. Either will bring joy to your heart, and make you smile . . .
(reminder – Sunday is National Just Because Day – a good day to do something for someone else, just because . . .)
Note – A related song
I’m reminded of a favorite song about sharing the light within each of us . . . Go Light Your World by Chris Rice
The song is about helping the poor, needy, hurting, etc. But this could include your brothers and sisters whose light has gone dim. . . Here are some of the lyrics (a video is below)
“There is a candle in every soul
Some brightly burning, some dark and cold”
. . .
“Frustrated brother, see how he’s tried to
Light his own candle some other way
See now your sister, She’s been robbed and lied to
Still holds a candle without a flame”
(Go Light Your World, by Chris Rice)
(Compassion International is a child-advocacy ministry that pairs compassionate people with those who are suffering from poverty. The ministry releases children from spiritual, economic, social, and physical poverty.)
(Creation Fest was an outdoor Christian music festival. For decades it was a four-day full of Christian music, worship, speakers, camping, baptisms, communion, extreme sports, prayer and more).
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